Volkswagen has been ordered to pay a USD 2.8 billion criminal penalty in the United States for cheating on diesel emissions tests.

Federal Judge Sean Cox in Detroit followed the deal negotiated by VW and the US Justice Department. The sentence was ordered today, six weeks after the German automaker pleaded guilty to conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

VW admits that nearly 600,000 diesel cars in the US were programmed to turn on pollution controls during testing and off while on the road.